Also thrilled to share my recent purchase, the Alexander Wang Marion bag (Available at Shopbop HERE). For me its the perfect bag for nights out, big enough to fit phone, wallet, keys, camera and with a sling strap - leaving my hands free for busting some serious moves. The hardware corners mean I won't destroy it in a hurry - I'm known for being accident prone.
I was intially upset I missed out on the bag with the Rose Gold/Tan colouring but have turned myself around with the fact that I know I'd spill something on a tan bag, thats just my style.
It is pretty amazing though... Maybe Santa (aka my credit card) will be generous this year!

Tuesday

Better late than never! My images from the official opening of the Louis Vuitton Maison store in Sydney, featuring none other than the incredible Cate Blanchett cutting the ribbon. As you might be able to tell from these shots I had the great pleasure of standing very close to the divine Miss Cate - and I have to say - she glows absolutley. Shines like a star! But let's just be cool for a minute... Sort of almost meeting Cate wasn't the only highlight - how sweet are the creations of artist Billie Achilleos, animals made of entirely of Louis Vuitton bags and purses and zips. The beautiful thing was they didn't appear to be made of deconstructed torn up pieces but of near whole items! So precious.
Obviously the Ready to Wear was all stunning - and you can tell I geeked out a bit by snapping pictures of myself holding pieces in the mirror (just be cool Zanita) and got a few funny looks from the security guards. Spot fellow bloggers Nicole (Gary Pepper) and Mandy (Oracle Fox) who were clearly enjoying themselves as much as I was.
Artisan Fatima was busily constructing a bag by hand for our on entertainment, the work was painstaking and by the looks of it required incredible dexterity and strong fingers. Fatima has been working for Louis Vuitton for over 15 years (or maybe it was 25)!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE amazing sky high black boots, stunning lime green box bag, peter pan collar shirt, The World's Best Leather Jacket and the most covetable gold studded collar I've ever seen.
My dreams are stamped with LV.

Monday

I'm sure some of you have pick up the term, coined by the very fabulous Man Repeller, creating a decent Arm Party is a skill where I'm a bit of an amateur, being that I'm quite the minimalist - my 'Arm Party' would be the 'scrabble and white wine double date' of parties.
Still practice makes perfect.
Here I have three little wrist gems, number 1 being actually covered in real gems, almost, my Tresor Paris bracelet with white crystals. So blingin'.
Secondly, my old faithful Tiffany cuff - given to me as a gift from my true love.
Finally and perhaps most importantly my sweet Georg Jensen heart bracelet (no I haven't joined Kabbalah). Stuck for a sweet christmas gift for a special loved one? Give the gift of giving! $50 dollars from the sale of each one of these bracelets goes to the Australian Red Cross.
Christmas is a time for us to be grateful for how lucky we all are to have friends, food to eat, a screen to stare at. Share some of your good will and give a little, to a charity like the Australian Red Cross who are responsible for vital community services at this time of year for those in need. Services such as a daily phone call to an isolated elderly individual to provide friendship and assistance or helping children's lives internationally by providing food and safe drinking water. So yeah... enough preaching from me, I just hope you can do you heart a favour and give it some thought.

Wednesday

A well overdue post of an extremely entertaining day - Polo in Centennial Park, courtesy of Paspaley Pearls. One unexpected surprised was the Ellery fashion show midway through the day and I tip my hat to the gorgeous mods keeping their cool in the scorching heat, though the styling which included some beautiful Paspaley pieces would have certainly inspired a degree of cool factor. I'm definately a fan of the game of Polo now, extremely entertaining with a glass of champagne and a good interval of divet stomping.
Thanks so much to Paspaley for styling me up in some stunning Pearl earrings, paired with my Secret Squirrel dress I felt very much the 'Pretty Woman.'
Meanwhile how stunning is the new Paspaley campaign, shot by our very own Nicole Bentley and starring timeless beauty Carolyn Murphy. Epic beauty.

I finally got around to enlisting the supreme talent of artist Kelly Smith, who's work has made these images twice as striking and ethereal. Thanks so much Kelly!
See more of Kelly's work at Birdy And Me.

Sunday

I'm literally running out the door right, husband yelling at me to hurry up - but I have to squeeze a little post in before I head away for the weekend (to watch Elton John in the Hunter)!
I've had a crazy few days so playing catch up with have to start on Tuesday, in the meantime here are a few shots from the Louis Vuitton party I have the great pleasure of attending on Friday with some of my favourite girls in the world and some very famous people.

I've stolen these pics from the press release and Gary Pepper blog, so my own shots will have to come early next week!! Please check Nicole's blog to see who everyone is - I'm sure you can recognise Ronnie Wood, Miranda Kerr, Jess Gomes, Isabel Lucas, Megan Gale.
So fabulous!

Thursday

I'm so delighted to present this photoshoot, shot by the incredible Benny Horne and featuring Bambi Northwood-Blyth and a ton of amazing Aussie labels like Ellery, Zimmerman, Fernando Frisoni, Willow and Mania Mania - all thanks to online super-retailer SHOPBOP. I was given the opportunity to comment on the styling and on Aussie fashion trends and also to interview some of the designers involved. You can check the rest if the interviews HERE and there's a little preview below. I love that Kym Ellery and I have the same special talent...
How thrilling to be asked to take part in this! I'm sure you remember my first encounter with the stunning Bambi (with Stylestalker) and I have long been a fan of Benny's work from publications like Russh and Harpers Bazaar. Props to ShopBop for being on the money in acknowledging Australian fashion, in recent years with the new reach the internet has given Australia fashion voices its been really exciting to see our talent reach a broader platform. Go team OZ!
Very lucky to also have FabSugar Australia and Elle.com write a feature on the collaboration HERE and HERE.